Data / Federal rules / 2025-01049
Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter
The Health and Human Services Department published this final rule in the Federal Register on January 17, 2025. It took effect on February 18, 2025.
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What the agency says
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services are amending their regulations to expand the circumstances under which practitioners registered by the Drug Enforcement Administration are authorized to prescribe schedule III-V controlled substances approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid use disorder via a telemedicine encounter, including an audio-only telemedicine encounter. Under these new regulations, after a practitioner reviews the patient's prescription drug monitoring program data for the state in which the patient is located during the telemedicine encounter, the practitioner may prescribe an initial six-month supply of such medications (split amongst several prescriptions totaling six calendar months) through audio-only means. Additional prescriptions can be issued under other forms of telemedicine as authorized under the Controlled Substances Act, or after an in-person medical evaluation is conducted. This regulation also requires the pharmacist to verify the identity of the patient prior to filling a prescription. The Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 generally requires an in- person medical evaluation prior to issuance of a controlled substance prescription. However, this regulation falls under one of the exceptions found within the Ryan Haight Act. Additionally, this regulation does not affect practitioner-patient relationships in cases where an in-person medical evaluation has previously occurred. The purpose of this regulation is to prevent lapses of care by continuing some of the telemedicine flexibilities that currently exist for those patients seeking treatment for opioid use disorder.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2025-01049
- Type
- Final rule
- Action
- Final rule
- Agency
- Justice Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; Health and Human Services Department
- Published
- January 17, 2025
- Takes effect
- February 18, 2025
- Dates
- This rule is effective February 18, 2025.
- Docket
- Docket No. DEA-948
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 1117-AB78
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 21 CFR 1306; 42 CFR 12
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Drug traffic control; Prescription drugs; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements
- Significant
- Yes, under Executive Order 12866
- Pages
- 20
Other documents from the Health and Human Services Department
Everything from the Health and Human Services Department · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on drug traffic control · Rules on prescription drugs · Published in January 2025
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